NBC is refusing to show ads for the Dixie Chicks documentary Shut Up and Sing because they feel the the ads are “disparaging to President Bush.” Apparently criticizing the President is un-American especially running up to the mid-term elections. Ironic, considering this is a film about censorship. This, of course, is the same NBC that has no problem running Republican smear ads to local markets.

Harvey Weinstein – the distributor – has the following to say:

It’s a sad commentary about the level of fear in our society that a movie about a group of courageous entertainers who were blacklisted for exercising their right of free speech is now itself being blacklisted by corporate America. The idea that anyone should be penalized for criticizing the president is profoundly un-American. (source)

I’m not a fan of country music but I do respect their stand. Here’s the long version of the ad: